Hilde Louise
Oslo, Oslo County, Norway | Established. Jan 01, 2001 | INDIE
Music
Press
On Friday, the 25th of April the dim hall of Kulturhuset was brightened by the cheerful smile and outrageous spirit of Hilde Asbjørnsen – a fascinating Norwegian jazz singer, who kept the listeners smiling and crying for an hour and a half! - www.utropia.no
In March Norwegian singer, songwriter and actress Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen released her fifth album ‘Never Ever Going Back’ on her own label Sweet Morning Records in Norway to solid critical acclaim. Admittedly I don’t know Asbjørnsen’s earlier releases, from what I’ve read all jazz, so I can’t say if this is a step upwards or the opposite. What I can say is that I’m digging what I hear.
Jazz is still very much part of her music, not least in her expressive vocal delivery, but adding blues, pop and rock elements she creates an enticing combo with a 1920s cabaret feel in the spirit of Tom Waits (only prettier in every sense) and sharing the playfulness of her Finnish sister in arms Astrid Swan (album opener ‘Trans Siberia’ could’ve been a Swan track).
As said I don’t know her previous albums, but by the looks of it ‘Never Ever Going Back’ is a step in a new direction for Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen. And by the sound of it she doesn’t have to go back…
Read more: http://allscandinavian.com/3740/hilde-louise-asbj%c3%b8rnsen-never-ever-going-back/#ixzz0p9nfDb3H
- www.allscandinavian.com
The transfixing stage presence of sultry Norwegian vocalist Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen stole the show. Her smoky, note-perfect rendition of Strangelove was so close to the record, we wondered if she was pulling a Britney. - NOW Magazine
The transfixing stage presence of sultry Norwegian vocalist Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen stole the show. Her smoky, note-perfect rendition of Strangelove was so close to the record, we wondered if she was pulling a Britney. - NOW Magazine
Given that Koop's beats-culture jazz schtick is almost entirely sample-based, it's intriguing to see how they present it live. The two Swedish gentlemen are at the back of the stage twiddling their knobs in their trademark strappy dresses, but they are upstaged by the Norwegian chanteuse Hilde Louise Asbjornsen, who's like Doris Day infused with the va-va voom of Jessica Rabbit, wearing the most fantastic dress that accentuates every curve as she sashays and flirts while the trombonist frenetically extends his instrument. Retro glamour, musical improvisation and surreal visuals all combine for a pretty good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. - Parallax view
Given that Koop's beats-culture jazz schtick is almost entirely sample-based, it's intriguing to see how they present it live. The two Swedish gentlemen are at the back of the stage twiddling their knobs in their trademark strappy dresses, but they are upstaged by the Norwegian chanteuse Hilde Louise Asbjornsen, who's like Doris Day infused with the va-va voom of Jessica Rabbit, wearing the most fantastic dress that accentuates every curve as she sashays and flirts while the trombonist frenetically extends his instrument. Retro glamour, musical improvisation and surreal visuals all combine for a pretty good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. - Parallax view
Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen is a rare and wonderful combination, equal parts musician, poet and storyteller. This enjoyable Scandinavian lady, hailed by Norwegian press as "three parts Monroe and one part Holiday", amply displays all these talents in her latest compact disc recording, "Sound Your Horn".
Hilde Louise's fourth album under her own name, "Sound Your Horn" is a curious mix of rythms, colours, and unique improvisations by the Hilde Louise Orchestra, a collection of Norway's best known musicians, led by keyboardist and musical director Anders Aarum.
Hilde Louise's poetry is hypnotic, as is her happy "little-girl" sounding voice. Her instrumental arrangements are like dark, expencive chacolate - rich, sweet-tasting, and very satisfying, while leaving you wanting more! - Skootsjazz.com
Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen is a rare and wonderful combination, equal parts musician, poet and storyteller. This enjoyable Scandinavian lady, hailed by Norwegian press as "three parts Monroe and one part Holiday", amply displays all these talents in her latest compact disc recording, "Sound Your Horn".
Hilde Louise's fourth album under her own name, "Sound Your Horn" is a curious mix of rythms, colours, and unique improvisations by the Hilde Louise Orchestra, a collection of Norway's best known musicians, led by keyboardist and musical director Anders Aarum.
Hilde Louise's poetry is hypnotic, as is her happy "little-girl" sounding voice. Her instrumental arrangements are like dark, expencive chacolate - rich, sweet-tasting, and very satisfying, while leaving you wanting more! - Skootsjazz.com
Just before the big breakthrough?
Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen is perhaps best known as a cabaretartist and entertainer in the duo "Asbjørnsen and Joh", but has also grown to provide three jazzalbums in the last four years. Recently came the fourth, "Sound Your Horn" and it bears witness to that Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen is moving toward a slightly more popish and more accessible jazzexpression. Something that also has led to her first position on the Norwegian Charts Top 40.
Yet, Saturdays concert at Sardinen did not leave any doubt that Hilde Louise first and foremost is an elegant jazzsinger, and do not have immediate plans to go in Silje Nergaard's footsteps. 31-year-old from Sunnmøre has a sensual and slightly hoarse voice with a full tone controle and do not have to resort to easy solutions.
Her songs are exciting and varied and keep good measure both when it comes to melody and lyrics. Maybe not always groundbreaking, but also not boring. A little bossanova, a little funk, a teaspoon of cabaret with Tom Waits-references and a large portion of references to the 50ies and 60ies jazz.
She also had a solid band behind her. In particular, the brilliant pianist Anders Aarum got show off at the Fender Rhodes and piano, but also doublebassplayer Jens Fossum, Klaus Robert Blomvik behind the drums and Jan Martin Smørdal on guitar had a lot to give. On a parts of the material she also presented three solid brassplayers. We're guaranteed to see Hilde Louise at Nattjazz again.
EINAR ENGELSTAD - Bergens Tidende
Just before the big breakthrough?
Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen is perhaps best known as a cabaretartist and entertainer in the duo "Asbjørnsen and Joh", but has also grown to provide three jazzalbums in the last four years. Recently came the fourth, "Sound Your Horn" and it bears witness to that Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen is moving toward a slightly more popish and more accessible jazzexpression. Something that also has led to her first position on the Norwegian Charts Top 40.
Yet, Saturdays concert at Sardinen did not leave any doubt that Hilde Louise first and foremost is an elegant jazzsinger, and do not have immediate plans to go in Silje Nergaard's footsteps. 31-year-old from Sunnmøre has a sensual and slightly hoarse voice with a full tone controle and do not have to resort to easy solutions.
Her songs are exciting and varied and keep good measure both when it comes to melody and lyrics. Maybe not always groundbreaking, but also not boring. A little bossanova, a little funk, a teaspoon of cabaret with Tom Waits-references and a large portion of references to the 50ies and 60ies jazz.
She also had a solid band behind her. In particular, the brilliant pianist Anders Aarum got show off at the Fender Rhodes and piano, but also doublebassplayer Jens Fossum, Klaus Robert Blomvik behind the drums and Jan Martin Smørdal on guitar had a lot to give. On a parts of the material she also presented three solid brassplayers. We're guaranteed to see Hilde Louise at Nattjazz again.
EINAR ENGELSTAD - Bergens Tidende
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Hilde Louise Asbjrnsen is one of Norways most original stage cats. Her awarded carreer as a stage actress and cabaret artist, brings you back to the aera where jazz was both art and entertainment.
She fronted the Swedish jazz/electronica duo KOOP on their last tour of USA, Asia and Europe, and is the co-writer and vocalist on their single Strange Love (launched in USA on Atlantic Records, soundtrack to Coca Colas web commercial "Library").
Accompanied by some of Norways hottest jazz musicians, she thrills her audiences like a Norwegian version of Camille O'Sullivan, with her own songs. Multi tasking like Harry Connick jr., deeply inspired by early European Cabaret, vintage jazz and the magical world of Tom Waits.
She has released 8 solo albums, 5 of them on her own label Sweet Morning Music, and toured Norway and Scandinavia with Hilde Louise Orchestra in several rounds since 2002, playing major festivals such as: Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Canal Street, Maijazz, Vossajazz, Nattjazz Bergen and more. In 2010, her song Undeceivable was ranked among the finalists in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC).
"Hilde Louise Asbjrnsen is a rare and wonderful combination, equal parts musician, poet and storyteller. This enjoyable Scandinavian lady is hailed by Norwegian press as "three parts Monroe and one part Holiday". Hilde Louise's poetry is hypnotic. Her instrumental arrangements are like dark, expencive chocolate - rich, sweet-tasting, and very satisfying, while leaving you wanting more! Hilde Louise Orchestra, a collection of Norway's best known musicians, is led by keyboardist and musical director Anders Aarum. (quote Skoot Larsson)
Now Magazine, Toronto writes:
"The transfixing stage presence of sultry Norwegian vocalist Hilde Louise Asbjornsen stole the show. Her smoky, note-perfect rendition of Strangelove was so close to the record, we wondered if she was pulling a Britney."
Band Members
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